SO. EFFING. TASTY. >>>

Doing excellent bread is tough; it takes some funny chemistry to make the stuff come out just right. But Chef William and Shannon Mueller at Babblin' Babs Bistro have the knack, and not just for making bread. Their real contribution was figuring out what to do with the leftovers - and that's turn it into the best bread pudding I have ever had. Soft, pillowy, sweet but not overwhelmingly so, this single dessert is probably packed with more cream than any sane person should eat in a week.

And yet I'd eat it every night if I could.

The homemade cubed bread is soaked in cream with roasted Madagascar vanilla beans grounded and infused into the cream. They take fresh peaches from the Proctor Farmers Market and cook them in bubbling brown sugar so the peaches are slightly carmalized; then cooled and tossed all together with the bread and cream with a pinch of mace spice. Baked until the top goes stiff and golden, it's then set on a cloud of wonderful butter cream sauce with Amaretto, which is not cooked out.

It's so good it should come with a warning label.

Babblin Babs Bistro

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
2724 N. proctor St., Tacoma
253.761.9099

30 YEARS OF AWESOMENESS >>>

The puppy chewed up your shoe again, didn't he? Now he's in there gnawing on your kitchen table leg. Oh, he will pay. He will pay dear. You'll fix him, heh, heh. You'll SUPER FIX him. It won't cost you that much, and it will solve many, many problems far into the future. Perhaps not of the chewing variety, but hey, things get more complicated as we grow older.

Don't I know.

Speaking of older, Wizard's Hairspa celebrates 30 years of turning heads this year. In 1979, Mark Leibel opened Ozone Tonsorial Parlor in Tacoma's Stadium District, and co-owned Ozone II in Lakewood, which he later turned into Wizard's Hairspa.

What the hell has this to do with neutering your dog?  Wait.

In the early '90s, Leibel, his wife, Deborah, and Benno Waler opened Galleria on Broadway in downtown Tacoma. Terry Rishel - Chihuly's photographer for years - ran a photography studio in the back. I hooked up with this cool crew for fashion shoots during my years as publisher of the local arts and society newspaper Choices.

Neuter. Yes I'm getting there.

Sunday, Wizard's Hairspa will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a bash featuring live music, silent auction and a raffle. Schedule to perform are bluegrass band The Graham Crackers, country bands Eddie Gillan's Lovechild and Twang Junkies, blues band Big Nasty, Leibel's band The Blonds and guests. It's rumored one of the guests might be Wizard's Hairspa stylist and singer Denny Porter (Blue Baboons, Running With Scissors).

OK, here it is. Money collected from the $5 donation admission fee and silent auction will benefit the Coalition: HUMAnE Spay and Neuter Clinic. The clinic's mission is to promote and provide low cost spay and neuter services for pet cats and dogs, as well as feral cats in an attempt to stop the needless killing of companion animals due to overpopulation.

"This local clinic makes a difference and the money we raise will go directly to the cause, instead of getting eaten up by administration," says Leibel.

Sunday's party has fun written all over it. Speaking of "all over it," you best get back to your puppy.

Wizard's Hairspa 30th Anniversary Party

Sunday, Sept. 18, 3-10 p.m., $5 donation
The Swiss, 1904 S. Jefferson Ave., Tacoma
253.588.5544

Nappy Roots made a modest but significant impact in the early 2000s with the release of Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz, a sharp and effective statement of purpose that established the group as simultaneous party-starters and fierce advocates of their native Kentucky. Their hit single, "Awnaw," was a ferocious slice of sensory-overload - a combination of heavy rock riffs and harried verses shared between the group's five members. "Po' Folks," on the other hand, was a relaxed and affecting ode to the ups and downs of living in poverty in the South. Since then, Nappy Roots have continued to make music that can be labeled Southern rap, but is always unexpected and tough to pin down, with a positive bent that helps to separate the group from the rabble. 

[Hell's Kitchen, with Island Trybe ft. Po Boxx, Tom Hutch, Awall, Blue Nose Music, 9 p.m., $10 advance, $15 DOS, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

SATURDAY, SEPT. 17, 2011 >>>

1. O'Malley's Irish Pub will host the mini Sturgis of skateboarding, a day of ripping, beer and bands today with warm-ups beginning at noon. No giant contest money ($500), corporate sponsors or swooping ESPN camera cranes - just local hard-core skaters summoned by the scent of wood dust tossed above the vertical lip of the miniramp performing before drunks in the beer garden. There will be cash prizes for the competitiors and raffle prizes for everyone else. Wheelies, Revengers, City Hall and Overboard! perform at the after party at 8 p.m.

2. Historic Tacoma and the South Tacoma Business District Association host a walking tour of the buildings, history, and possible future of South Tacoma Way beginning at 10 a.m. in front of Heritage Bank at 5448 ... wait for it ... South Tacoma Way.

3. There have been many battles in Yelm - mostly during rush hour. Today, from 1-5 p.m. eight band swill battle it out in Yelm City Park to raise money for the Yelm Library.

4. When you think of artist Lynn Di Nino, you think sculpture. And crazy hair. But mainly sculpture. Do you know she creates jewelry? Check out her one-person show - "The New Mystery Jewelry" - at Sandpipper Gallery in Old Town Tacoma through Oct. 21. There's a preview party from 2-5 p.m.

Stadium District Art & Wine Walk is ostensibly about looking at art, but everyone knows it's much more about the wine. From 4-8 p.m. the district's businesses will showcase Washington state wine. More details can be found here.

PLUS: Talk Like A Pirate Day and the Tacoma Throwdown in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Saturday Nightlife It List

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Strike This: Although pissed the Tacoma School District teachers didn't return to work, Superior Court Judge Bryan Chushcoff didn't throw down the hammer. (News Tribune)

HUD Bud: Almost $2 million in federal housing money is headed for Hilltop Tacoma's community center. (News Tribune)

Video: A pilot lost control of his vintage plane during an air race over the skies of Reno and slams into box seats. (CNN)

Stirring Some Shit: Seventy-four year old Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi called the German Chancellor Angela Merkel an "unfuckable lard-arse." (The Independent)

We Wonder If They Called Erica Albright A Bitch: Meet some Stanford genius hackers and code writers. (New York Magazine)

Let's Look At Art: The 30 Best Pop Culture Google Doodles. (Flavorwire)

Wipeout: Too sexy for his shorts. (Dumb As A Blog)

STREETS ARE FOR PEOPLE >>>

Park(ing) Day has come and gone and for at least another year, the urban jungle known as downtown Tacoma will be a little less green than it was for one glorious day yesterday. 

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tacoma Bike, BLRB Architects, Doyle's Public House, Cascade Land Conservatory, Tacoma School of the Arts, Transportation Choices Coalition, Boe Architects, Pierce Transit, Stadium Bike Club Citizens for a Healthy Bay, the Seabury School and your beloved Weekly Volcano transformed metered parking spaces into a pop-up park. Yesterday's national Park(ing) Day challenged the status quo with the goal of stirring conversation or dialogue on public space, green space, and to inspire a vision of a city where the streets are for people.

The Weekly Volcano took liberties – transforming our little space into a mini Woodstock festival, bringing love and music to the urban environment. The public hung with us, honked at us, hugged us and ate our free brownies. On a side note, Pierce Transit drivers gave the most thumbs up of all the public transportation drivers. Taxis came in second.

Big thanks to Downtown: On The Go and Transportation Choices Coalition for organizing the local effort. And thanks to Ben and Ted Fuller of the band China Davis for performing all day at our (PARK)stock.

Remember, Park(ing) Day isn't just about temporarily reclaiming some public land for public use, it's about raising awareness that whatever its benefits, there is a high cost we pay for the convenience of on-street parking.

Anyone have links to photos of the other park(ing) parks in downtown Tacoma?

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. The Smokin' Js. 9 pm.

Caffe Dei Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Tacoma Noise Rodeo featuring Bagger288, Full On, Firedrill and Infradead. All Ages. 8 pm. NC. To read the full story on the Tacoma Noise RAdio, click here.

Dorky's Arcade Tacoma - Downtown. One-year anniversary party featuring IDon'tKnowWhoTheyAre, MC Mike Kopf, Phantom Twin, Gonken, SliiDE, Kitty Cats in Pirate Hats. 9 pm. NC.

• Dorky's Arcade has been on a role as of late. As Dorky's near its one-year anniversary (can you believe it's already been a year?), the arcade has finally acquired a liquor license and started throwing rock shows. To celebrate the first year in existence, Dorky's is having a typically nerdy anniversary show, featuring the silly pop-punk of Gonken, the sci-fi electronics of SliiDE, the tongue-in-cheek rap of Cutwinkles member MC Mike Kopf, and a comedy troupe called Kitty Cats in Pirate Hats. Of a certain note will be electro-pop Phantom Twin, featuring Brandon Beauchesne. Eagle-eyed readers will recall that I wrote about him for 2010's Best of Tacoma issue - about what, I will not say. Just know that this show will tickle your dorky cockles in the least weird way possible. - Rev. Adam McKinney
  

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Halfway To St. Patrick's Day, with Blvd Park. 9 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Chris "Cricket" Johnson's Birthday Blowout, featuring Unhailoed, No Living Witness, Osama Bin Rockin, Deathbed Confessions, Bloodhunger, Deathmocracy. 9 pm. $5.

The Hub Tacoma - Stadium District. Tai Shan. 9 pm.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Aces Up, Rae Solomon. 8:30 pm.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Klover Jane, Kertson & The Immortals, Riot In Rhythm, J.T. Phillips, Rane Stone. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Ten Pound Note. All Ages. 8 pm. $10.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel, Ghostwriter, Russ Dahler, John Walker. 9 pm.

• The one-man-folk-band thing is getting a wee-bit played out. There's only so much banjo-plucking and foot-stomping - coming from a single person with an "Isn't it impressive how many things I can do at once?" look on their face - that a set of refined ears can appreciate. After a while, unless you're actually on a porch somewhere and drunk on moonshine, the head pat-tummy rub shtick just gets old. That said, Ghostwriter is NOT played out - and the shtick is anything but boring. While Steve Schecter - the man who is Ghostwriter - has the country-fried, chicken feather bit down - there's also a gloominess to what he does that keeps things interesting. Saturday Ghostwriter plays twice, for the all-ages crowd early at Rocket Records, and later for the drunks at The New Frontier for a 21+ engagement with Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel. Both shows are worthy. - Matt Driscoll

Northern Pacific Coffee Co. Tacoma - Parkland. Stephen Robert and the Other Ones. All Ages. 8-11 pm. NC.

O'Malley's Irish Pub Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Gnar at the Bar with Wheelies, City Hall, Revengers and Overboard! 8 pm.

The Red Room Tacoma. Icarus The Owl, Shrouded In Veil, True Love & High Adventure. All Ages. 6:30 pm. $6-$8.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Billy Farmer. 8 pm. NC.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Devil on a Leash, Animals in Cars, Love and the Lords of Chaos. 8 pm.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Chuck Stentz, Steve Luceno. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$12.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. 100th Monkey. 9 pm.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

SUNDAY, SEPT. 18, 2011 >>>

1. From 3-10 p.m. at The Swiss Wizard's Hairspa will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a bash featuring live music, silent auction and a raffle. Schedule to perform are bluegrass band The Graham Crackers, country bands Eddie Gillan's Lovechild and Twang Junkies, blues band Big Nasty, Leibel's band The Blonds and guests. It's rumored one of the guests might be Wizard's Hairspa stylist and singer Denny Porter (Blue Baboons, Running With Scissors). Read the full story here.

2. Poet David Rowe will be stopping at Orca Books at 2 p.m. on his tour from San Diego to Seattle, bringing life to the words bookslut.com called "beautiful and chaotic and sexy and sonorous."

3. Internationally recognized artist and Tacoma native Dale Chihuly will come clean on how Tacoma and the Northwest have influenced his art and career at 3 p.m. inside Philip Hall at the University of Washington. The event will be followed by a chance a meet and greet with Chihuly at the Tacoma Art Museum. Weekly Volcano art critic Alec Clatic chimes in on TAM's  Chihuly exhibit here.

4. For those out of the loop, every February in Memphis the top blues act in the world gather for one of the biggest blues competitions known to man - on Beale Street, of course. Also, every year the South Sound Blues Association holds a competition (usually in June) to choose one lucky band to represent them and the entire region at said competition in Memphis. This, naturally, takes money - which is where today's fundraiser comes into play. The South Sound Blues Association will host another fundraiser to help send the Red Hot Blues Sisters (band winner) and Jumpin' Josh and Felicia (duo act winner) to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis this February. The 4-10:30 p.m. concert takes place at Louie G's Pizzeria and will feature Jumpin' Josh and Felicia, Chester Dennis Jones Band, Nick Vigarino and friends, The Wired Band, The Randy Oxford Band and The Red Hot Blues Sisters.

5. Speaking of blues, legendary Tacoma bluesman Little Bill and the Blue Notes will play a free show at the Spar as part of the Old Town Tacoma joint's weekly 7 p.m. Sunday Night Blues showcase.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Catch a movie today

NOT WALKING DURING THIRD THURSDAY ARTWALK >>>

Thursday, the Art Bus pushed off from the Tacoma Art Museum for another tour of Tacoma galleries, schools and businesses during the Third Thursday Artwalk. The guest tour guide was local author and Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. He led Art Bus patrons through exhibits at Embellish Multispace Salon, Handforth Gallery, Jazzbones, Tacoma Food Co-op, MLK Spaceworks, Fulcrum Gallery, Brick House and The Swiss. It was a younger, livelier crowd than normal occupying the bus seats, and Lindquist took advantages of the vibe dishing out jokes as if it was a comedy show. Good times. Here are 10 things I learned during the tour.

1. Thomas Duke, manager of Membership and Annual Giving at the Tacoma Art Museum, most likely increases membership because he's so cool. It's a common sight to see people follow him around the Museum, imitating his moves. You should join just to meet him. Duke also carries around an extra roll of duct tape for emergencies. Thanks Thomas for the help with the Volcano banner!

2. Hanging at Embellish Multi Space Salon is a timeline of hair fashion through the ages, created by artist Maureen McHugh. I had no idea the Bob cut hit the scene around the same time Germany invaded Poland.

3. The Puget Sound Sumi Artists celebrates its 25th anniversary with a retrospective of more than 70 paintings by 42 artists at the Handforth Gallery inside the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch. My favorite is "Consequential Swipes" by Ellen Miffitt.

4. The staff at Tacoma Public Library Main Branch recommends books Tengo un Manny en Casa and Death of a Valentine.

5. Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist digs Art Chantry's posters at Fulcrum Gallery.

6. It's common knowledge Art Chantry is famous for a series of hand-set posters promoting rock shows in Seattle. His posters merged big type with astonishing art, often cut out of exploitation magazines. He also punched his time card four different times as the Rocket art director. One of his proudest accomplishments is having his artwork hung in one of the Louvre's bathroom.

7. This painting hangs upstairs at Jazzbones. It was a collaboration between Corey Green and James Allan Tucker. Apparently, Green doesn't take his talent seriously. He should.

8. Seventy-something artist Alex J. Moeller painted the murals gracing the Tacoma Food Co-op building. He's painted for the rich and famous. He also plays a mean jazz piano.

9. Although blurry, here's proof Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist is taller than Brick House Gallery owner Peter MacDonald.

10. Weekly Volcano columnist Josh Rizeberg's monthly hip-hop showcase Word 3rd Thurs should have good legs. The debut drew a good-size crowd.

LINK: Ride the Art Bus

LINK: More photos of the tour in the Photo Hot Spot

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Strike Still On: Tacoma School District Administrators' desire to have more control over where teachers work is the biggest point of contention. (News Tribune)

Redistricting: Proposed maps leave a few lawmakers on the outside of their districts looking in. (The Olympia)

Obama The Hacker: The president will unveil a $3 trillion debt cut plan today. (CNN)

Uncomfortable Moments: 10 most awkward moments on the 2011 Emmys. (Flavorwire)

Where's The Music?: MTV has ordered siz new shows. (Aol TV)

R.I.P.: Frances Bay and Electron Boy. (LA Times & Seattle Times)

Showtime's Homeland: Watch the first episode. (Hit Fix)

Webcomics: Here's 14 awesome ones. (Paste Magazine)